Tuesday, March 4, 2008

When I had my first son I began to compile a list of all the fun indoor and outdoor activities to do in and around Charlottesville with PreK kids (as a stay-home mom, there was only so much playdough and trains I could take!). After 7 years here's the list. I think many of these apply to ALL ages. Feel free to add more!

*Ivy Creek*Take the city bus to Barracks Road and window shop*Picnic on the UVA Lawn*Take the free trolley to the Downtown Mall and eat ice cream at Chaps*Pen Park Nature Trail *UVA Athletics at (call 924-UVA1), (though I wish they would lower their prices for kids)*Monticello trail - this is a beautiful hike year round (I found this great website with further ideas)...*Belmont Park water play*Sugar Hollow hike *Humpback Rock hike (Blue Ridge Parkway)*O-hill hike (love the candy and dog treats that await you at the top!)*Polo games in the late spring and summer out 5th street and at King Family Vineyards *Drive-in at Fork Union (we've actually never found a movie we are willing to take our kids too, but some day...)*Putt-Putt Miniature Golf on Rio Road*Wine Festivals (we'll bring the jug of lemonade for the kids)*Carter Mountain (fruit picking and fall festival)*The Berry Patch Of Free Union (963-0659).*Chile's Orchard*Fry Spring's Beach Club (pool and Volleyball for memebers)*Washington Park pool*ACAC Outdoor Water Park (for members)*fly a kite at Darden Towe Park*Farmer's Market at Meade Park and Downtown (check Betty directory)

(?for some reason I can't get my links to work tonight, except the last one - i promise that's not intentional)

2 comments:

Great idea! I took my daughter downtown on the bus a couple of weeks ago. She loves riding the bus. Absolutely loves it. We went from our house in the Fry's Spring area to downtown, via the new McGuffey Park.

Of course, people look at you crazy when you take a kid on a bus. I remember once when I was looking after my daughter last year, I took her to a playgroup at the Central Library on the bus. May as well have had tentacles coming out my head.

Glad to see the UVa Polo matches listed as an option. The polo grounds (at Forest Lodge Lane off Old Lynchburg Rd/5th Street Extended) also hosts things like "canine agility trials" (last weekend). My husband walked over there (we live right by there) with our preschooler and our toddler and the kids went nuts over the dog agility trials. Dogs doing tricks! What a blast they had. Usually we just go over and check out the horses in the stables or the fields. We've yet to make it to an actual polo match. Someday!

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I find these difficult to write, but here goes... I am blessed with playing many roles in life- mom, friend, pet-lover, activist/organizer, cook, cleaning lady, teacher, student(you never stop being either one), artist. I stop to smell the flowers. A lot. But I also hit the ground running (I've been on crutches for sprained ankles at least four times). I've got lots of energy and I love people! I adore the beach. And dancing. My kids have taught me that the most important way to be in the world is just that BE, be totally present. I want to live life with my arms wide open. I want to listen with my whole body. I want to hold hands and smile when I see a better world unfolding before my very eyes.